Containers With Removal Tray Inserts

ABSTRACT

A packaging system is provided wherein a main container is used having an inner ledge section on which one or more insert containers can rest. The ledge is provided below the rim of the main container so that the insert container is supported within the main container, but does not interfere with closing of the main container. The main container and insert containers also preferably include corresponding ridge and recess sections that provide interference fitting of the insert container into the main container. This prevents unwanted movement of the insert container within the main container. The packaging system allows the producer and user to stock, ship and use only the components suited for their particular use, and thus provides flexibility in their particular applications.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to containers which are primarily used forfoodstuffs, but which may also be used for a variety of other products.The claimed containers utilize a container insert system so that themain container components, which includes foodstuffs or the like, can beplaced into the main container section, and various other components(e.g. condiments, dressings, utensils, and the like), are added to themain container by use of specifically designed inserts. By use of thesystem, the other components are kept separate from the main components,but are readily available for use by the consumer, immediately prior toconsumption.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Clear plastic containers are commonly used for the sale and distributionof a variety of foodstuffs. These include foodstuffs such as lettuce, orother salad greens, strawberries and other berries, prebaked pastries,cookies or cakes, and other foodstuffs which lend themselves to beingpre-packaged. Commonly, these types of foodstuffs are intended for usewith other components such as condiments, dressings, creams, sauces, andthe like, which are to be kept separate from the main components. Thiskeeps the components separated prior to use, allows the consumer tocontrol the amount of other component to be added, and/or aids indelaying or preventing the onset of spoilage in the main component.Currently, this type of separation of components is accomplished bymerely inserting a loose, smaller container within the larger maincontainer. This could include a sealed plastic bag of the othercomponent, but might also include one or more small plastic containerswhich are added to the main container. Typically, these bags or smallercontainers are merely inserted into the main container (before or afterfilling the main container with the main component), and then the maincontainer can be closed or otherwise sealed for delivery to theretailer, or consumer. This allows the bags or smaller containers tomove within the larger container which can make them difficult tolocate, or leads to an unattractive packaging appearance in which theother component container is merely loose in the main container.

Other approaches include the “Take ‘n’ Go”™ containers, available fromAmhil Enterprises, as described in US Patent Publication No.2013/0068772, in which a small container is affixed to the lid of thelarger container prior to closing the larger container, so that the onelid covers both containers. However, it is not always practical or easyto take this approach for a container which includes a hinged lidpermanently affixed to the main container body. Moreover, there is nocapability of providing multiple smaller containers within the maincontainer body.

In another approach, an inner container is fitted within the body of themain container. Most of these types of containers include a peripheralsealing rim section that extends around the upper section of the maincontainer. The lid includes a corresponding peripheral recess sectionaround its outer edge which is adapted to receive and hold the rimsection, and thus, substantially seal the main container. In this priorart approach, the inner container rests on the upper, sealing rimsection of the main container body. However, this approach interfereswith sealing of the main component lid to the main component body, andas such, leakage can occur. Also, if the other components protrude abovethe upper level of the other container to any extent, they can interferewith proper closing of the main container.

Also, if the inner container is smaller than the main container, theinner container can move within the main container body as the maincontainer is handled or flexes. As a result, the inner container canbecome loose within the main container body. This provides a poorappearance to the consumer, and can act to loosen the lid since theinner container no longer rests on the main container rim section.

Moreover, there is no system currently in place wherein a variety ofdifferent sized and shaped inner containers can be selected and used fora selected main container, depending on the relevant application.

Accordingly, it would be beneficial to the industry to provide acontainer having a container insert, which overcame all or at least someof these issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In keeping with the present invention, there is provided a packagingsystem, comprising a main container having a main container body and anoptional lid, wherein, when present, the optional lid and main containerbody include a closing mechanism so that the lid will substantiallyclose the main container body, and

-   -   at least one insert container which is smaller than said main        container body, and which is capable of being fitted within said        main container body,    -   wherein said main container body includes connected side        sections and a bottom section, a rim section around the upper        surface of the main container body, a inwardly extending ledge,        preferably on one or more of the sides of the main container,        below the rim section, and one or more ridges or recess sections        on one or more side sections, and wherein,    -   said insert container includes connected side sections, a bottom        section, and a protruding lip section at or near the top of at        least one side of the insert container, wherein, the protruding        lip is adapted to be placed onto at least part of the inner        ledge of the main container, and wherein one or more side        sections of the insert container additionally include a ridge or        recess section which corresponds to the ridge or recess section        on the main container, and which is adapted to be fitted within        the ridge or recess section of the main container when said        insert container is placed within said main container.

In the alternative, the present invention also provides a packagingsystem consisting of a main container, and at least one insertcontainer, of the type described hereinabove.

Preferably, there is a flexible hinge between the lid and main containerbody so that the lid and main container body can be at least temporarilyaffixed, one to the other, by use of the hinge.

The inwardly extending ledge is generally a substantially flat section,of typically less than 2 cm, more preferably less than 1 cm in width,still more preferably less than 0.5 cm, and most preferably, in therange of between 1 and 5 mm. The ledge is preferably placed immediatelybelow the rim section so as to typically be less than 3 cm, morepreferably less than 2 cm from the rim section. Still more preferablythe ledge is less than 1.5 cm, most preferably, is between 0.2 to 12 mmfrom the rim section. As such, the ledge is typically located in theupper part, and preferably at least in the upper half, of the maincontainer body sides. In a preferred embodiment, the ledge is preferablyprovided at the normal “fill line” of the main container, wherein thefill line is the normal filling point for the rated size of the selectedcontainer. As such, the ledge provides an indication of the normalfilling line for the container. The ledge is a sufficient distance fromthe rim section so that the ledge does not interfere with normal closingof the main container body by its corresponding or attached lid. At aminimum, the ledge should be below the rim by a distance equal to thethickness of the material used to form the lid.

More preferably, however, the ledge and/or the insert container arepositioned away from the lid, and thus, the lid will typically havelittle or no contact with the insert container.

Preferably, the inwardly extending ledge is continuous and extendscompletely around the inside of the main container body. For example,for a rounded main container, the ledge preferably extends around theentire main container. For a four sided container, the ledge preferablyis placed on all four sides, and also preferably extends around theentire main container.

The insert container is smaller than the main container so that it willfit inside the main container, and the protruding lip section will reston the main container ledge. In one embodiment, the insert container issized and shaped so that its lip section rests on the ledge sectioncompletely around the main container. Using this approach, the insertcontainer covers the entire opening of the main container, and can belifted out of the main container prior to use. In this embodiment, theinsert container preferably has a shorter depth than the main containerso that it is held off of the bottom of the main container. However,having the insert container rest on the bottom of the main container isnot excluded.

In another embodiment, the insert container is sized and shaped so as tobe smaller than the opening in the main container body. As a result, theprotruding lip section will only rest on part of the ledge section.Typically, this smaller insert container will only cover a portion ofthe opening of the main container body. Typically, this would beapproximately 50% of the main container body opening, but the insertcontainer can be used to cover any desired main container body openingdesired by the user.

Preferably, in this approach, for a four sided main container, theinsert container is also sized so as to preferably rest completelyacross the ledge at only one end of the main container, but also extendat least part way along the ledge section on the two connected sidesections for that end. As a result, only a portion of the opening of themain container is covered.

Again, in this approach, the insert container can rest on the bottom ofthe main container, but more typically, the insert container is shorterin depth than the main container, so that the insert container is heldoff of the main container bottom.

Also, in this approach, the insert container might only include a lipsection on three sides, and the lip-free side will face into the maincontainer.

More than one insert container can be fitted into the main container,and thus, the present invention also provides a packaging system havinga main container and two or more insert containers fitted within themain container. The insert containers used can have the same size andshape as each other, but they can also have different sizes and shapes.In this fashion, different sized insert containers can be provided thatwill fit within a selected main container. In this fashion, the user canselect the desired shape and size of the insert container, orcontainers, to be used for a selected main container size. Thispackaging system thereby allows the user to select a main container, andone or more insert containers, that meet the requirements of the user.

For example, for a four sided main container, two insert containersmight be used, wherein both insert containers are fitted to the oppositeends, and extend along the two connecting sides. The insert containerscan be sized so that they contact each other, or they can be sized so asto be held apart from one another.

Additionally, it should be noted that more than two insert containersmight be used. For example, for a three insert container packagingsystem, two insert containers can rest on the ledge at the two ends ofthe main container, and part way along the ledge on the sides of themain container. A gap could be provided between the two insertcontainer, and a third insert container could be added having a lip thatrests on the ledge on the two sides of the main container.

In embodiments where two or more insert containers are used, preferablyeach, or all of the insert containers include a protruding lip sectionthat extends completely around the insert container. This can permit theadjoining lip sections of the insert containers to overlap. The lipsections can however, as be placed so as to be separated from eachother—preferably by a gap of less than 1 cm,—or the lip sections can beplaced so as to abut one another. When overlapping, the adjoiningprotruding lip sections can also include a mating section that allowsthe two lip sections to interlock. This might be provided by apost-and-hole arrangement, but more preferably, is provided by includingan interlocking ridge on the lip section in the overlap area. Thisinterlocking of the lip sections can assist in providing additionalstructural integrity to the packaging system of the present invention.

Typically, the lip section on the insert containers is generally asubstantially flat section, which is preferably slightly smaller thanthe ledge width. As such, the protruding lip section typicallypreferably has a width of less than 2 cm, more preferably, less than 1cm, and still more preferably, less than 5 mm. A preferred lip sectiontherefore preferably has a width of between 1 mm and 5 mm. As a result,the lip section is sized so as to rest on the main container ledgesection.

Where appropriate, the lip sections of the insert containers can alsooverlap or mate with the lip section of an adjoining insert container,as previously described.

Numerous options exist for selection of different sized and shapeinserts for a selected main container. As such, a container supplier canprovide a limited number of main containers, and the user can select asuitable main container and one or more inserts that fit within thatmain container that meets their requirements. In a preferred approach,main containers can be provided having the same width and length, sothat the same insert containers might be used, for all main containers.However, the main container depth can vary to provide different maincontainer volumes. The supplier thus can provide a series of insertcontainers that can be mixed or matched for use within a selected maincontainer.

The insert containers can also vary in size, shape or design. Forexample, the insert container compartment might be continuous, or mightinclude openings such as slots or holes, to connect with the maincontainer. For non-liquid materials in the insert container, this wouldlower the amount of plastic used.

It can also be noted that, commonly, the insert container includes onlya single compartment. This compartment can be open at its top, or it canbe sealed using, for example, a foil seal that extends across the top ofthe insert container. The compartment might also be made resealable by,for example, use of a film having a resealable glue, or by providing acompartment with a zipper storage lock, or the like. The insertcontainer can also include two, three or even more compartments, each ofwhich might also be continuous compartments (e.g. no side or bottomopenings), or include side or bottom openings. Any or all of thecompartments might also be open at their tops, or each of thecompartments might be sealed. The insert container(s) can thereby becustomized for different applications and uses.

The insert container can also include tabs, ridges, pinch points, orfinger openings, to facilitate insertion or removal of the insertcontainer from the main container.

The main container, and the insert container also include correspondingridges and recesses on their side sections, and these ridges andrecesses on the main container and the insert container are placed sothat they fit, one into the other, when the insert container ispositioned in the main container. In one approach, the side sections ofthe main container include one or more preferably vertical ridges thatprotrude inwardly into the main container. The side section of theinsert container includes at least one preferably vertical recess thatprotrudes into the insert container, and which is positioned so as tomate with the main container side wall ridges when the insert containeris placed into the main container. The positioning and number of ridgesand recesses on the main container, and/or the insert container sidewalls can vary depending on the size and shape of the main container andthe insert container. Preferably, at least one, and more preferably, atleast two ridge and recess sections are mated for each insert container,when inserted into the main container.

The vertical ridges and recesses can be positioned in a symmetricalarrangement on the side wall sections, or on the front and back of themain container. However, asymmetrical designs can also be used. Forexample, the front wall section might include fewer vertical ridges orrecesses in order to permit a better view of the main containercontents. Structural ridges or recesses might also be provided on theinsert container even on sides which are not intended to be in contactwith the main container, in order to provide structural rigidity andstrength in the insert container.

Preferably, the ridges and recesses allow for the insert container tohave anywhere from a slight clearance fit to a slight interference, fitwithin the main container. As such, the insert container can be easilyinserted into the main container body without any significantdeformation of the main container body, or insert container. Thepositioning of the ridges and recesses can be varied, so that either themain container or the insert container can include either the ridges orrecesses. For example, if the main container includes ridges orrecesses, the corresponding insert container will include recesses orridges, respectively, in order to fit in place in the main container.

The ridges and recesses are preferably 0.5 to 5 cm in depth, and morepreferably, between 1 and 3 cm, for a typical container. However,smaller depth ridges and recesses might also be used, and in particular,smaller depth ridges and recesses having a wider base area might also beused. These types of ridges and recesses might be referred to as“waves”, and each of the main container and insert containers being usedwill preferably have a corresponding wave pattern.

By use of the ridges and recesses on the side walls of the maincontainer and insert container, and by use of the lip section resting onthe ledge section, the insert container is essentially prevented frommovement within the main container. This provides a better appearancefor the packaging system of the present invention. Depending on thenature of the insert container, the insert container can also provideadditional strength and rigidity to the packaging system

For most purposes, the material of the main container and the insertcontainer is preferably transparent. However, it will be understood thatin some instances it may be convenient or advisable for the material ofthe main container and/or the insert container to be translucent, oreven opaque. The materials of the main container or the insert containercan also be coloured, or non-coloured. Printing can also be provided oneither or both of the main container, or the insert container.

The material of the main container and the insert container can beseparately chosen from any suitable materials, but most preferably, boththe main container and the insert containers are made of plastic. Themain container and the insert container can be made of differentmaterials, but preferably, both made of the same material. Preferably,the main container and the insert container are made from polyethylene,polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonates, polyethylene terephthalate(PET), or vinyl, or mixtures thereof and therebetween. Section of theconstruction material can be influenced by the nature of the material tobe stored in the main container and/or the insert container. Forexample, hot or cold materials might require different constructionmaterials.

While a variety of production techniques can be employed, in general,the main container and the insert container of the packaging system, arepreferably formed by thermoforming, and usually by being pressure formedfrom sheet material, followed by stamping operations to separate eachformed container from the sheet material. Other production processeshowever, can include injection moulding of the main container and/or theinsert container, and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of thepresent invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method ofoperation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, willbe better understood from the following drawings in which presentlypreferred embodiments of the invention will now be illustrated by way ofexample. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are forthe purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended asa definition of the limits of the invention. Accordingly, embodiments ofthis invention will now be described by way of example in associationwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of a packaging system according tothe present invention, which show one embodiment of an insert containerand one embodiment of a main container separately in FIG. 1A, and thenassembled together in FIG. 1B;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a main container;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a top view and a perspective view, respectively, ofone embodiment of an insert container;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the ledge section of the main container,with an insert container lip section being shown thereon;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are top and perspective views, respectively, of analternative embodiment of an insert container;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an assembled alternative packagingsystem;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial view of the ledge section of the packagingsystem of FIG. 6, showing part of the main container and part of theinsert container inserted therein;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are top and perspective views of a further alternativeembodiment of an insert container;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative packaging system with theinsert container from FIGS. 8A and 8B;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are perspective views of a packaging system accordingto the present invention, which show two insert containers and a maincontainer separately in FIG. 10A, and then assembled together in FIG.10B;

FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D and 11E are enlarged central lip sections whichshow some possible central lip section arrangements;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an alternative main container;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the main container of FIG. 12 in usewith two insert containers;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are top and perspective views respectively, of a stillfurther embodiment of an insert container; and

FIGS. 15A and 15B are perspective views of a still further packagingsystem according to the present invention, which show a round maincontainer, with a semi-circular insert container separately in FIG. 15A,and then assembled together in FIG. 15B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of thepresent invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method ofoperation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, willbe better understood from the following discussion. In the drawings,unless otherwise noted, the packaging system is shown comprising aopaque main containers, and opaque insert containers, in order for thedrawings to be more easily understood. However, it will be understoodthat the packaging system can comprise opaque, translucent, transparent,or clear main and insert containers.

Turning first to FIG. 1A, there is shown a packaging system 10consisting of a main container 12, having a main container body 14 and alid 16. Main container body 14 and lid 16 are attached together by hinge18. Main container 12 can be used as is, on its own, but in keeping withthe present invention, main container 12 is intended to receive insertcontainer 20 which is adapted to be fitted within main container 12 inthe manner described in the present invention. As such, the assembledpackaging system 10 is shown in FIG. 1B wherein insert container 20 hasbeen inserted into the body 14 of main container 12.

Main container 12 and insert container 20 are pressure formed from PET,in a manner known to those skilled in the art.

Details of the construction of main container 12 are shown in FIG. 2. Inthis figure, the four side walls of main container 12 are shown andthese include two end walls 22, front wall 24 and back wall 26. Each ofend walls 22 have four vertical ridges 28 which protrude into maincontainer body 14. Front wall 24 has two vertical ridges 30, and backwall 26 has a total of four vertical ridges 32, in two sets of twovertical ridges, which also protrude into main container body 14.

Around the top peripheral edge of main container body 14 is a rimsection 34. A corresponding recess section 36 is provided around theperipheral edge of lid 16. In a manner known to those skilled in theart, lid 16 can be used to cover and essentially seal main containerbody 14, by inserting rim section 34 into recess section 36.

A peripheral ledge 38 is provided around the top of the main containerbody 14, immediately below the rim section 34.

Details of the construction of insert container 20 are shown in FIGS. 3Aand 3B. In these figures, insert container 20 includes only a singlecompartment 40 which substantially fills insert container 20. It will benoted that insert container 20, in this embodiment, is intended toessentially cover the entire top section of main container body 14.

The end walls 42 of insert container 20 each include vertical recesses44. Front and back walls 46 also include vertical recesses 48. Whenplaced into main container body 14, vertical ridges 28 on end walls 22will be positioned into vertical recesses 44, or vertical ridges 28 willextend into a gap located under pinch section 50. Pinch sections 50 canbe used to insert or remove insert container 20 into main container 12.

Additionally, when insert container 20 is placed into main container 12,vertical ridges 30 and 32 on front wall 24 and back wall 26, will bepositioned into vertical recesses 48. In this embodiment, insertcontainer 20 is reversible so that the front and back walls can bereversed.

An essentially flat protruding lip 52 is provided around the peripheraledge of insert container 20, and this lip 52 is intended to rest onledge 38 of main container body 14. Details of ledge 38 and lip 52, inthe assembled packaging system 10, are shown in FIG. 4, and in FIG. 4,it can clearly be seen that protruding lip 52 rests on ledge 38, and noton rim section 34, since ledge 38 is positioned in the main containerbody 14, at a point below rim section 34. As such, insert container 20can be inserted into main container body 14 in a manner where it doesnot interfere with rim section 34 or recess section 36. As a result,insertion of insert container 20 into main container 12, does notinterfere with the normal closing and sealing of main container 12 bylid 16. Moreover, whether or not insert container 20 has been insertedinto main container 12, it is clear that main container 12 can be closedwith lid 16, in a regular manner without having the insert containeraffect the rim and recess closing mechanism.

In FIGS. 5A and 5B, a top view and a perspective view, respectively, ofan alternative embodiment of an insert container 60 are provided whereinthe insert container only partial covers the opening in the maincompartment. In this embodiment, insert container 60 is sized so as tocover approximately 50% of the opening of the main container. Insertcontainer 60 has only a single compartment 62, and includes a protrudingperipheral lip 64, and a protruding central lip section 64A, thatextends around insert container 60. Lip 64 is provided so that it willrest on the ledge 38 at one end wall 22 of main container 12, and willrest on part of ledge 38 extending along the front and back walls(24,26), of main container 12.

A structural rib 65 is preferably provided on the insert container 60,in the area under the central lip section 64A. This provides additionalrigidity to the insert compartment 60.

Vertical recesses 66 are provided on one end of insert container 60, andvertical recesses 68 are also provided on the sides of insert container60. These vertical recesses (66, 68) are positioned so that they providea slight clearance fit with the vertical ridges (28, 30 and 32) at thesides and end of one end of main container 12.

In FIG. 6, a completed packaging system 70 according to the presentinvention is shown, which includes a main container 12, and insertcontainer 60. Details of the insert container 60 resting on ledge 38 ofmain container 12, can be seen in the enlarged view provided in FIG. 7,which more clearly shows protruding lip section 64 and ledge 38. It canalso be seen that ledge 38 is well below rim section 34.

In FIGS. 8A and 8B, a top view and a perspective view, respectively, ofa further alternative embodiment of an insert container 80 are providedwherein the insert container again only partial covers the opening inthe main compartment. In this embodiment, insert container 80 is againsized so as to cover approximately 50% of the opening of the maincontainer. However, insert container 80 has two compartments 82 and 83,and includes a protruding peripheral lip 84, and a protruding centrallip section 84A, that extends around insert container 80. Lip 84 isprovided so that it will rest on the ledge 38 at one end wall 22 of maincontainer 12, and will also rest on part of ledge 38 extending along thefront and back walls (24,26), of main container 12.

Again, a structural rib 85 is preferably provided on the insertcontainer 80, in the area under the central lip section 84A. Thisprovides additional rigidity to the insert compartment 80.

Vertical recesses 86 are provided on one end of insert container 80, andvertical recesses 88 are also provided on the sides of insert container80. These vertical recesses (86, 88) are positioned so that they providea slight clearance fit with the vertical ridges (28, 30 and 32) at oneend of main container 12.

In FIG. 9, a completed packaging system 90 according to the presentinvention is shown, which includes a main container 12, and insertcontainer 80, wherein insert container 80 has been inserted into maincontainer 12 in a manner consistent with that described in respect ofFIG. 6.

In FIG. 10A, the various components of a version of a completedpackaging system 100, according to the present invention, are shownseparately. This includes main container 12, insert container 60 andinsert container 80. In FIG. 10B, insert containers 60 and 80 are shownafter both have been inserted into main container 12. Lips 64 and 84rest on ledge 38 where they contact main container 12. In the centre ofmain container 12, central lip sections 64A and 84A are positioned so asto provide a slight gap 87 between central lip sections 64A and 84A. Gap87 is typically approximately less than 1 cm, more preferably between 1to 5 mm, and most preferably, about 3 mm. However, the width of gap 87can be any suitable value.

It should be noted that in an alternative design, central lip sections64A and 84A can abut one another, or overlap with one another. When theyoverlap, preferably, the combined thickness of the two overlappingcentral lip sections is small enough that the overlap does not cause anyinterference with the closing of lid 16. Still further, the central lipsections can include an interlocking feature, which aids in providingstructural support for the packaging system. These possible arrangementsare shown in FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D, which respectively showenlarged views of the relative positions of central lip sections 64A and84A. In FIG. 11A, central lip sections 64A and 84A have a gap 87 betweenthem. In FIG. 11B, central lip sections 64A and 84A abut one another. InFIG. 11C, central lip sections 64A and 84A overlap with each other. InFIG. 11D, central lip sections 64A and 84A each include a ridge 89 thatallows central lip sections 64A and 84A to be connected to each other.

It can be noted though that central lip sections 64A and/or 84A are notnecessary. As such, in a further option, as shown in FIG. 11E centrallip sections 64A and 84A have been omitted from insert containers 60 and80.

In general, it will therefore be seen, that the size and shape of thevarious components of the present invention, allows for mixing andmatching of the main containers and insert containers to provide acustomized package for each user. As such, the packaging system of thepresent invention allows for flexibility in stocking, storing andshipping of only those components required by a particular customer.

As such, in FIG. 12, an alternative main container 110 is shown which isessentially identical to main container 10, with the exception that maincontainer 110 has a reduced depth, and that lid 112 is separated frommain container body 114. However, as will be clearly understood by theskilled artisan, lid 112 can still be easily used to close maincontainer body 114.

As shown in FIG. 13, a packaging system 116 is provided wherein maincontainer body 114 is used to receive the same insert containers 60 and80 that have been previously described. In this embodiment, the user canuse main container body 114 on its own (with or without lid 112), orwith insert container 60 and/or insert container 80. In FIG. 13, bothinsert containers 60 and 80 are shown, but either could be omitteddepending on the user's specific application.

Other design options are possible. For example, in FIGS. 14A and 14B, afurther insert container 120 is shown having two compartments 122 and124. Compartment 122 is the same as compartment 82 in FIG. 8B, butcompartment 124 is a circular compartment. Compartment 124 can be open,or can be sealed by, for example, a foil seal (not shown). It will beclear though, that numerous options exist for the size, shape and designof both the insert container, and the main container, and that the useris freely able to mix and match the insert containers and the maincontainers to prepare a customized packaging system suited for theirparticular application.

Other container body shapes are possible, as is seen in FIGS. 15A and15B. In FIG. 15A, a circular shaped main container 130, having a maincontainer body 132 connected to lid 134 by a hinge 133. Main containerbody 132 is shown adjacent to semi-circular insert container 136. Insertcontainer 136 is sized and shaped so as to be capable of being insertedinto main container body 132, in a manner similar to that previouslydescribed wherein ridges in the main container body are adapted to fitinto recesses in the insert container. The resultant assembled packagingsystem 140, is shown in FIG. 15B.

Clearly many other shapes and sizes are possible.

Also, it should be noted that while the primary application for thisinvention is for providing foodstuffs, other suitable applications areknown or possible. As such, the packaging system of the presentinvention might also be used for the sale or dispensing of manufacturedmaterials, such as nuts, bolts, screws, or the like, or electricalcomponents, such as resistors, capacitors, batteries, or the like. Awide variety of other uses can be envisioned. It will therefore by clearto the skilled artisan that various other modifications and alterationsmay be used in the design and setup of the present invention, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.

Accordingly, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordancewith the present invention, a packaging system which fully satisfies thegoals, objects, and advantages set forth hereinbefore, or inherentthereto. Therefore, having described specific embodiments of the presentinvention, it will be understood that alternatives, modifications andvariations thereof may be suggested to those skilled in the art, andthat it is intended that the present specification embrace all suchalternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless thecontext requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as“comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusionof a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not to theexclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Moreover, words such as “substantially” or “essentially”, when used withan adjective or adverb is intended to enhance the scope of theparticular characteristic; e.g., substantially or essentially planar isintended to mean planar, nearly planar and/or exhibiting characteristicsassociated with a planar element.

Further, use of the terms “he”, “him”, or “his”, is not intended to bespecifically directed to persons of the masculine gender, and couldeasily be read as “she”, “her”, or “hers”, respectively. Also, relativeterms such as “inwardly” or “outwardly” are to be interpreted in theirnormal manner when the device of the present invention is used in itsintended manner.

Also, while this discussion has addressed prior art known to theinventor, it is not an admission that all art discussed is citableagainst the present application.

We claim:
 1. A packaging system comprising a main container having amain container body, and an optional lid, and at least one insertcontainer which is smaller than said main container body, and which iscapable of being fitted within said main container body, wherein saidmain container body includes connected side sections and a bottomsection, a rim section around the upper surface of the main containerbody, a inwardly extending ledge, preferably on one or more of the sidesof the main container, below the rim section, and one or more ridges orrecess sections on one or more side sections, and wherein, said insertcontainer includes connected side sections, a bottom section, and aprotruding lip section at or near the top of at least one side of theinsert container, wherein, the protruding lip is adapted to be placedonto at least part of the inner ledge of the main container, and whereinone or more side sections of the insert container additionally include aridge or recess section which corresponds to the ridge or recess sectionon the main container, and which is adapted to be fitted within theridge or recess section of the main container when said insert containeris placed within said main container.
 2. The packaging system of claim 1wherein said main container includes a main container body and a lid,and wherein the lid and main container body include a closing mechanismso that said lid will substantially close the main container body. 3.The packaging system of claim 2 wherein said lid is connected to saidmain container body by a flexible hinge.
 4. The packaging system ofclaim 1 wherein the main container and/or the insert container istransparent.
 5. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the maincontainer body, the optional lid, and/or the insert container are madefrom polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonates,polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or vinyl, or mixtures thereof andtherebetween.
 6. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein said packagingsystem comprises one or two insert containers.
 7. The packaging systemof claim 1 wherein any or all of said insert containers comprise atleast one compartment.
 8. The packaging system of claim 7 wherein any orall of said insert containers comprise one or two compartments.
 9. Thepackaging system of claim 1 wherein said insert container, or acompartment thereof, is sealed.
 10. The packaging system of claim 9wherein said insert container, or a compartment thereof, is sealed by afoil seal.
 11. The packaging system of claim 6 having two insertcontainers, wherein said insert containers include a central lip sectionfacing the interior of the main container body, and the central lipsections of the two insert containers abut one another, overlap witheach other, or are separated by a gap.
 12. The packaging system of claim11 wherein the central lip sections of the two insert containers overlapwith each other, and each central lip section includes a mating section.13. The packaging system of claim 12 wherein said mating section isprovided by a ridge on each central lip section, and wherein said ridgeson each central lip section interlock one with the other, when saidinsert containers are inserted into said container body.
 14. Thepackaging system of claim 1 wherein said main container body, saidoptional lid, and/or said insert container or containers, isthermoformed.
 15. The packaging system of claim 14, wherein the maincontainer body, said lid, or said insert container or containers, ispressure formed from sheet material, followed by a stamping operation toseparate each from the sheet material.
 16. The packaging system of claim1 wherein said ledge is located at the normal fill line of said maincontainer body.
 17. The packaging system of claim 2 wherein said ledgeis located below said closing mechanism so that closing said lid is notaffected by having one or more inserts being located within said maincontainer body.